11 Indian crew members missing after vessel sinks off Philippines

The cargo ship Emerald Star sank in the Pacific off the Philippines.

Eleven Indian crew members went missing on Friday after their cargo ship sank in the Pacific off the Philippines, prompting Indian missions in the Philippines, Japan and China to launch a search for them.

A cargo ship with 26 Indian nationals on board sent a distress signal early on Friday as the Hong Kong- registered vessel was sailing off the Philippines. (Shutterstock/Representative image)

External affairs ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said these missions were regularly monitoring the situation.

“Fifteen Indians rescued, search on for missing 11 following sinking of a ship off Okinawa. Our Missions in Japan, Philippines and China on the job,” he tweeted.

According to a statement from the Japanese coastguard, the 33,205-tonne Emerald Star with 26 Indian nationals on board sent a distress signal early on Friday as the Hong Kong- registered vessel was sailing some 280 kilometres east of the northern tip of the Philippines.